Extending Scotland’s tourism

Maureen Ferrier

Scotland is being urged to market itself more strongly as a tourist destination for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) travellers.

A new report ‘Wish you were here – The Scottish LGBT Travel Report’ by the Equality Network, Scotland’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex equality and human rights charity, highlights the opportunities of marketing Scotland to the world as an LGBT friendly travel destination. The research behind the report was conducted in partnership with Visit Scotland, the national tourism organisation.

The report shows that despite 77 per cent of those surveyed considering Scotland an LGBT Friendly destination, only three per cent said Scotland comes to mind first when thinking about LGBT destinations around the world.

Scott Cuthbertson, from the Equality Network, said: “Scotland has all the ingredients of a world class LGBT friendly travel destination, a favourable legal landscape, great places to visit and the friendliest people in the world, its time to make more of that and send out a warm welcome to LGBT travellers.”

Now the Equality Network has said it is developing an LGBT travel guide which will be launched next year and distributed in core markets. The aim of the guide to encourage more LGBT tourists to visit Scotland.

Visit Scotland has also used the research behind the report to launch a special LGBT portal on visitscotland.com to better support the needs of LGBT travellers. http://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/lgbt/